The Bible tells the unfolding story of redemption that God has been writing in the world. It is a story that continues to be written individual by individual and generation by generation. As He does so, it is worth asking: Is there a particular kind of person God is looking for? A characteristic they must possess to be gold in the Author's hand? Join us as we explore this question and discover the surprising answer in the book of First Samuel.

The book of Ruth is a story of unwelcome sorrows, unlikely heroes, and unexpected redemption. It follows the life of an Israelite woman named Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth as they navigate an uncertain future as widows in foreign lands.

The life of Jacob is a lesson in the way God pursues the individual as an individual. Your story is not my story. And Jacob's story is not Abraham's story. But all are part of the Story of redemption that is big enough to include us all.

What was it about Abraham that made him one of the Fathers of the Faith? What was so significant about his relationship with God that God would later refer to Himself as the God of Abraham? And Sunday School kids would sing about "Father Abraham" 4,000 years after his death? Find out as we kick off a new series exploring the significant figures and stories embedded in Matthew's genealogy of Jesus.

While Luke is quite clear about many of the factors and characteristics at work in the early church of Acts 2, there is also a universal principle in play that receives no mention. This principle - which operates in both the natural world and spiritual world - is crucial to our ability to experience the abundant life that Jesus promises in the Gospels. Join us this week as we discover this universal principle at its role in our spiritual lives.

There is no doubt that the early church formed a special community – one of great unity, gratitude, and generosity. In this week's message we discover the second of two key characteristics that Luke lays out for his readers in the book of Acts. A characteristic that just might be the key to us experiencing all that God has for us in His Church.

Certain moments in the life of Jesus and his disciples make us wish we could go back in time – to stand among them or even be a participant. For many, Acts 2 is one of those moments. While we can't call Marty McFly to transport us back, we can dive into the descriptions and ask, "What made this community and moment so unique." By so doing, we can discover the essential elements for experiencing that kind of community and movement of God today. Join us for this week's message where we discover the first half of the "secret sauce" of Acts 2 kind of community.

We had a special opportunity this past Sunday. Our special guest John DelHousaye led us through what the New Testament church referred to as a Love Feast - the manner in which they met for worship and fellowship alongside sharing a table and meal together. In this episode, John shares about the nature of these gatherings and what we can glean from them.

We all recognize the value of a deep and abiding faith, but we can miss the path to possessing such a faith. What did figures David and Paul or the early church consider essential for the formation of deep faith? Join us this week as we discover one of those vital ingredients.

Resurrection life is at the heart of not only the Easter season, but the Gospel itself. It is hope for this life and for the life to come. Join us this week as we meditate on the hope of the Gospel found in some the promises of the God's Word. Note: The middle of this podcast includes six times of silence for reflection on a passage. If you wish to extend these times of reflection, simply pause the podcast and continue when you are ready.